6 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT OUR KIDS DANCESPORT PROGRAMS
Which dances do we teach?
In our dance classes, your child will learn the basic steps and techniques of both Standard and Latin Ballroom dance styles including Waltz, Cha-cha, Jive, Quickstep, Rumba, Samba, and more.
Our classes are taught in a friendly and supportive atmosphere that excites the students to dance. Every class starts with the warm-up routine which combines a variety of elements from different dance styles such as tap dance, hip-hop, jazz, ballet, salsa, bachata, disco, etc. During the warm-up section of the class, we play upbeat, trendy songs which we know the kids will absolutely love.
Our kids dancesport course is perfect for kids with little or no ballroom dance experience who are interested in learning the basics of a variety of styles and gaining the ability to move to different rhythms, coordinate and strengthen their body, and greatly improve their posture and learn the art of stage performance.
No dance partner is required to join our DanceSport course.
Why Dancesport and not Ballroom Dancing?
There might be confusion why we call it a DanceSport program, not Ballroom Dancing. Despite the fact the dance styles we teach are exactly the same as you might have seen on “Dancing With The Stars”, our classes are focused on cultivating a very important skill – being competitive. Both physically and mentally. We use competitions during our classes to engage kids in the process, motivate them to work harder, and strive for perfection. Competitiveness is a huge element of sport and often is the driving force of progress and development. Our DanceSport program is a balanced marriage of the sports mentality and artistic dancing approach.
Every month, we have an open competition class where parents are welcome to stay and see their child’s progress. During this class, students will perform and compete against each other to score points based on the quality and improvement of their dancing. This competition, judged by our DLAS coaches, is aimed to display every child’s progress which inspires them to work hard to see the results they want. At the end of the semester, there is an awards ceremony where we recognize the students’ improvement, and results, and of course distribute the prizes.
What’s the best age to start competing?
While our Kid’s Dancesport group class program is centered around recreational dancing which develops poise, and posture, and is a great form of exercise. However, any students who show drive, motivation, and improvement are always encouraged to enroll in our competition program which requires one-on-one private lessons and gives them exposure to the world of competitive dance.
Preparation for DanceSport competitions entails a completely different mindset and approach. It teaches our kids the necessary work ethics, persistence, goal-oriented mentality, psychological strength, focus, and, of course, teamwork with their dance partner.
We have trained world champion dancers and have years of experience. Our teaching methods are based on the highest quality information and prioritize discipline and the value of hard work. With our help, your child can the next US champion!
There is no age limit to start competitive ballroom dancing for kids or adults. It is never too early to start; you can start as young as 3-4 years old (and never too late, we have competitive students over 67 years old!).
There are several ways to compete on DanceSport competitions:
- Am/Am We find your child a suitable dance partner (same age, suitable proportions) and prepare this amateur dance couple for competition in their age group and level.
- Student/Teacher, It’s no secret that it can be hard to find a suitable competitive dance partner so our studio offers an opportunity to compete with your own dance teacher. It makes the whole process way easier and more fun. Kids also progress more efficiently by dancing with a professional dance partner.
What equipment is required for our Dancesport classes?
In order to get the most out of our dance lessons, every kid needs to be properly dressed up. The most important thing is to have the correct ballroom shoes with a sole suitable for ballroom dancing. During our classes, we do twists, turns, and sharp changes of directions. Not having the proper shoes can cause an injury. In addition, we teach a lot of footwork techniques which require special flexible dance shoes and the sole which slips through the dance floor.
Your teachers will be happy to show you where to get these shoes from.
We treat dance as a beautiful, artistic activity. That’s why we expect our students to dress up appropriately.
Boys – Black training pants and a T-shirt.
Girls – Leotards, tights, and a skirt or a practice dance dress.
Are parents allowed to watch the group classes?
As with most of the dance studios in the United States we close our class doors to parents and here is why:
- Our top priority is to make every student in our dance class comfortable enough to express themselves without fear of being judged. The presence of parents can make some students uncomfortable, shy, and frustrated.
- Kids learn independence in a safe environment under the teacher’s supervision. It’s important that a kid can make decisions on their own during class, without looking over their shoulder for approval. In the end, we want them to feel responsible for their results and achievements. It also builds trust between a teacher and a student.
- Regardless of the teacher’s age and level of experience, it does bring a different energy into the room if parents are watching the class. Sometimes we use this as an advantage in our monthly open group classes for extra pressure on both teachers and students. But we try to keep parents separate from the process because every parent has their own opinion of how the class should be run (Often parents want to micromanage the process and do more harm than good to the process and growth of their own child).
- If you as a parent constantly watch the classes every time your child is training, you lose the great element of surprise. There is nothing more thrilling than coming to our DLAS show event or competition, and seeing your child completing all of these amazing new dance routines, steps, and figures. You will be amazed and proud!
The best way to get great results in Dancesport.
First of all, let’s define what “great results” mean. When we create a training program for every child we determine the semester’s goals for every student. The goals may differ according to the family’s wishes, financial situation, kid’s abilities, and desires. (Often kids don’t know what they want until their first success).
Here are some examples of great results we might achieve together during our DanceSport program:
- Your child’s posture became better
- Your child’s self-esteem increased
- Your child became more engaging and sociable
- Your child gets an improved sense of rhythm
- Your child learned and can dance all required dance steps and figures
- Your child’s flexibility and muscles tone have improved
- Your child learned how to count music
To achieve these results we recommend enrolling in the group classes twice a week and having an additional private lesson with the teacher one-on-one. Two group classes and a private lesson proved to be the best combination for a successful dancing journey.
If we talk about becoming a successful competitive dancer who wins local, National, and International dance competitions and championships, we highly recommend having at least two private lessons a week besides the group classes. Private lessons are the most efficient way to teach the detailed techniques and body mechanics needed to successfully compete and win DanceSport competitions. Although it might cost more than a group lesson enrollment fee, it definitely has great value and improves both short-term and long-term results.
